By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

Open burning banned as fire danger rating hits high

Jun 6, 2017 | 5:55 PM

NANAIMO — With the fire danger rating climbing quickly, the Coastal Fire Centre (CFC) is banning some types of burning.

As of noon on Wednesday, June 7, category two open fires are prohibited throughout the CFC. That’s any fire smaller than two metres tall by three metres wide, according to fire information officer Donna MacPherson.

“We’re still allowing campfires. It’s (category two fires) usually that type of size that people use to clean up their yard waste,” MacPherson told NanaimoNewsNOW.

The prohibition also covers fireworks, sky lanterns, burning barrels or burning cages of any size. Campfires must be smaller than a half-metre by a half-metre.

MacPherson said the fire danger rating in the mid-island region has shot up to high over the last few days. “We are seeing a rapid drying, especially to the material right on the top of the soil.”

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She said it has been a very slow start to the season, with only 10 fires throughout the entire CFC, all of them human-caused. That compares to the 10-year average of 32 by this time of year.

An open fire ban was put in place on May 13 last year.

As long as there are periodic rains in June the summer should be manageable, according to MacPherson. She said all of their crews are back and finished training in preparation for the fire season.

The ban does not apply to what’s known as the fog zone, a strip along the outer coast of Vancouver Island.

island-news@jpbg.ca

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